Coruscative ballistic device



June 2, 1964 F. ZWICKY 3,135,205

CORUSCATIVE BALLISTIC DEVICE Filed March 3. 1959 IN VEN TOR.' ler/7,- Zal/'d United States Patent O 3,135,205 CORUSCATIVE BALLISTIC DEVICE Fritz Zwicky, Pasadena, Calif., assignor to Hycon Mfg. Company, Pasadena, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 796,913 11 Claims. (Cl. 102-56) My invention relates generally to ballistic devices and ni'ore particularly to a coruscative ballistic device. A Coruscate is derived from the Latin word coruscare meaning to ash. Coruscate is thus generally delined as to glitter or gleam in flashes, and more broadly, as emitting light and heat. Coruscative is, in turn, derived from the word coruscate. Potentially self reactive combinations of solid or liquid reagents which can react fast, generate much heat and produce either solid or liquid reaction products upon reacting, are herein called coruscativesf Upon ignition, such coruscatives do not fly apart as do conventional explosives. One of the Well known combinations of reagents which constitutes a coruscative is iron oxide (FeZOS) plus aluminum (Al), lforming the welding mixture known as Thermit. On ignition, this mixture reacts and produces iron and aluminum oxide, With'a resulting temperature of about 4000 degrees centigrade. Coruscatives therefore yield a high heat of reaction, and the energies generated per unit volume of the original Vsolid or liquid reagents are much greater thanrthat obtained from conventional explosives or propellants. Further, particles composed of the hot reaction products of these coruscatives retain their high temperatures for several minutes and longer.

In any chemical reaction the nite change in the free energy is defined by the equation:

AF represents the finite change in free energy; E represents the internal energy per mole;

' T is the temperature; v S represents the entropy per mole; A P is the pressure;

V represents the molar volume; 2 indicates the final state after reaction; and l indicates the initial state before reaction.

The value of AF may be either positive or negative; however, for the scope of this invention only those reactions in which AF is negative will be considered. Such reactions may be either exothermic or endothermic, but in place during the reaction. 1f the change in the heat contentAH is negative, then heat is given off during reaction and the reaction is exothermic; if the change in the heat content is positive, the reaction is said to be endothermic. The heat content at any equilibrium state of the reaction is expressed by the equation:

Patented June 2, 1964 Where H represents the heat content;

E represents the internal energy per mole; P is the pressure; and

V is the molar volume.

Whenever a potentially self reactive composition, or coruscative, which on reaction produces a negative AF greater than Zero, is subjected to a sudden shock of suicient intensity, reaction will be initiated. The sudden shock applied to such potentially self. reactive compositions may be in the form of a mechanical shock, a thermal shock, an electric current, an electrostriction such as would be caused by a sudden change in an electrical field, a magnetostriction such as Would be causedby a sudden change in a magnetic eld, a chemical reaction, a catalytic action, or a radiative shock such as would be caused by impinging light, gamma rays or from corpuscular radiation such as a rays or rays.

I have discovered that in the ordinary form of explosive, which generates on explosion principally gaseous products, the heat generated on explosion is les-s than 3.0 kilocalories per cubic centimeter of the original cornposition. I have further discovered that when there is added to an ordinary type of explosive, a proper potentially self reactive composition of particularly solid reagents which upon reacting produce either solid or liquid reaction products, i.e., a coruscative, the energy content of the total original composition and the release of this energy content that can be achieved, will materially exceed the maximum energy content of 3.0 kilocalories per cubic centimeter which characterizes ordinary explosives whose reaction products'are gaseous.

A preferred form of shock for initiating the reaction of the solid, potentially self reactive compositions is obtained by placing the self reactive material in contact with a body of explosive and detonatin'g the explosive. The shock of the explosion initiates the reaction which then proceeds at high or low speed, or in a staggered fashion, depending on the type and nature of the components formlng the potentially self reactive composition. The explosive used in this manner may be either a solid, liquid, or an explosive gaseous mixture.

The potentially self reactive-solid material or coruscative employed in association with the explosive charge may be in the form of a cover, shell or simply an insert. Any of these forms maybe either in total or partial contact with a body of explosive. These covers, shells or mserts may be either restrained or unrestrained, that is, they may be solidly attached to some inert body, container or casing which holds the explosive, or they may be just placed in contact with the explosive. The inserts, shells and covers of the potentially self reactive material may be of any desired geometrical configuration or thickness. Varying sizes and thicknesses may be used. The inert restraining covers may likewise be of any desired configuration or thickness and can be made of any inert material such as a metal, an alloy, Wood, etc.

When the explosive in any of the noted combinations of explosive and coruscative is detonated, the reaction of the potentially self reactive material is initiated, and reacted, reacting, and possibly some unreacted particles of the material will be ejected at high velocity by the force of the explosion, coupled with force derived from some 'Y f the heat (energy) generated by the self reacting material. Among the particles thus released will be a fraction of solidrparticles and liquid droplets. These will be associated with elementary atomic or molecular reaction products and the proportions of each for any reaction ponents forming the` potentially self reactive compositions.

The explosive used to provide the force for initiating will vary depending on thenature of the original Comthe reaction may be any solid, plastic, liquid or gaseous type explosive as desired. Examples of solid explosives are: pentaerythritol tetranitrate, cyclot'rim'ethylene trinitramine, trinitrotoluene and the like. Examples of liquid Y explosives are: nitroglycerine, nitroglycol, sensitized'nitromethane, etc. Examples of plastic explosives are nitro- .cotton explosives and the so-called double base powders,

Q=1520 kcal./ gr. mole of reagents qm=2.25 kcal/gram qv=`5.85 kcaL/cm o Example yVII Q=565 kcaL/ gr. mole of reagents qm=0.68 kcal/gram v consisting of plastic mixtures of nitro'glycerine and nitrocotton. Examples of purely gaseous explosives are:y mixtures of hydrogen and oxygen, and mixtures .of acetylene and oxygen.

The amounts of energy released on detonation of some approximately as follows:

I form the potentially self reactive combinations by mixing and/or molding solid and solid, or solid and liquid substances that are capable of reacting with each other,

into a desired configuration. These combinations can comprise mixtures of chemical elements that are capable of reacting with each other and forming predominantly solid `or liquid reaction products at the temperature of reaction; combinations of elements and molecules such as oxides of certain elements that form solids; or a metal and a different metal oxide, halide or sulde. These types of materials upon reaction will produce'solid-solid or solidliquid reaction products.

Examples of compositions suitable for the purpose of this invention are as follows:

Q=220 ykcal./ gr. mole of reagents qm=2.3 kcal/gram qv=4.50 kcal/cm.3

Example Ill Q- ,181.5 kcaL/gr. mole of reagents qm=0.85 Vkcal/gram q==3.60 `kcal/cm.3

` qm=1.52 kcal./ gram qv=4.25 kcal/cm.3

Example VV Q=i1200 kcal./ gr. mole of reagents qm=2 .40 kcal./ gram 1v=5.80 kcal./cm.3

Kcal./ cubic centimeter iwell known explosive materials that generate only gas are CHBNOZ (nitromethane) 1.20 C3H5N3O9 (nitroglycerine) T 2.40 C qHNOV (RDX) A ,f e 2.22

C(CH2ONO2)4 (PETN) 7---- 2.48 C7H5N3O6 (trinitrotoluene) v1.04

actant.

where Q represents the heat/ gram mole of total reagents; qm is the heat/ unit mass (gram); and qv is the heat/ unit volumeV (cm). Y Y

It has been stated that reaction of a solid,V potentially self reactive composition can be initiated by placingrthe' self reactive material or coruscative in Contact with a body of explosive and detonating the explosive. The shock of Y the explosion initiates the reaction, and reacting particles are ejected at high velocities. However, such reaction is not always easily initiated, and it is sometimesV diicult to get a coruscative to start and lgo to completion .fully and effectively. This is often Ytrue even VWherea large amount of explosive is used in conjunction with afrelativel small amount of coruscative material. y

It is an object of my invention to provide af'coruscative ballistic device having coruscative material in contact With v a body of explosive wherein'initiation of reaction ofithe coruscative material can be eiiiciently accomplished.' Y

Another object of thisinvention is to provide a coruscative ballistic device wherein there is-included a corusca- Y tive insert which can be immediately and completelyinitiated into'reaction on detonation of an ordinary explosive in contact'rwiththe coruscative insert. Y n A further object of theinvention is -to provide `iii-a coruscative ballistic device, a shaped chargeliner or insert yfor the generation of jets of increased penetrating-power.

Another object of my vinvention is to provide a corusca-` tive ballistic devicejwherein its coruscatiye inserthas .a signicantly'exce'ss amount of reducing` croxidizing 're- Still another object.' of this invention is to provide 'a coruscative insert, in a coruscative ballistic device, whereinsert 4is preferably placed indirect contact rwith the explosive and normally comprises a multiple layer or laminated y coruscative body which'can be in the form of 'a compacted l disc, or linerfor a shaped charge.' rExcess reducing rfor oxidizing reactant material can-be vincorporated directly.v

in the insert or liner, or can bei supplied indirectly by providing appropriate material for' (casing) structure hous- Valong a central longitudinal axis of a symmetricalcoruscaing, the coruscative. j Y

My invention possesses 'othery objects and features, 'some of which together with the foregoing, will be set forth inY Y the following Vdetailed description Ofpreferred embodiments rof the invention. The inventionwill be more fully Yunderstood by reading the description with joint vreference to the attached drawings, inwhich:

.FIGURE .1 isa drawing showing a sectional view,4 taken tiveballistic device lhaving an unrestrained Vcoruscative in- Sert; .Y j n n FIGURE 2 is,V another sectional view drawing,v similar i to that of FIGURE 1, of a symmetrical coruscativeballistic Ydevice having a restrained coruscative insert to facilitate initiation of reaction Vby shear action;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary drawing showing aisee-i tional view of a slightly different version of Ycoruscative ballistic device which is similar to that of FIGURE 2 'but having a closed perforated end to provide greater shear action and to produce a scattering of reacting particles;

FIGURE 4 is another fragmentary, sectional view drawing illustrating a self shearing coruscative shell used in a coruscative ballistic device;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View drawing of a coruscative ballistic device having a conical, double layer coruscative insert liner forming a shaped charge;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view drawing similar to that of FIGURE 2 but having a coruscative insert which is laminar;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of a coruscative ballistic device having a laminar conical insert liner which is used with explosive in ya shaped charge arrangement;

FIGURE 8 is a drawing showing a sectional view similar to that of FIGURE 7 except that a conical insert liner vhaving laminations which are varied in concentration of different coruscative material is depicted;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view of a coruscative ballistic device having coruscative laminations which fill a dome of suitable material that can provide a supply of excess reducing or oxidizing reactant; and

FIGURE 10 is a drawing showing a sectional View of a coruscative ballistic device having a cylindrical coruscative insert.

A simple coruscative ballistic device 10 is illustrated in FIGURE 1. The device 10 comprises a cylindrical tube 12 which can be a thin walled aluminum tube about 3 inches in diameter yand approximately 10 inches long, for example. Corresponding lengths of similar structures should be approximately 31/2 times the diameter (or average width) in general, for a preferred arrangement. A lower cover 14 is used to close the lower opening of tube 12. The cover 14 can be a rubber, plastic, wood or metal disc which is pressed flatly into the lower end of tube 12 yas shown. A firing cap 16 is pushed through a small central aperture in the cover 14 so that the cap 16 'is held in an upright position, the tubular axis of the cap lbeing generally perpendicular to the plane of the cover 14. A booster 18, tetryl for example, is positioned at the uppermost end of the firing cap 16, and the tube 12 is suitably filled or packed with a conventional explosive 20. A coruscative disc 22 approximately 3 inches in diameter and 1/2 inch thick, for example, is placed on the top end of the tube 12 in contact with the explosive 20. TheV coruscative disc 22 is compacted from a uniform 'mixture of coruscative material such as titanium and graphite (Ti-i-C), using pressures up to nearly 100,000 p.s.i. Other coruscatives similar to those disclosed in the previous coruscative reactions can, of course, be used. The firing cap 16 can be electrically ignited through electrical leads 24, to detonate the booster 18 and explosive 20.

The device 10 is set in an upright position for the example described. If the device 10 is to be used in any other position than that shown in FIGURE l, the coruscative disc 22 can be attached in any suitable manner to the top edges of the tube 12. However, in the instance Where the coruscative disc 22 is only laid directly on top of the tube 12, it was found that the weight or inertia of the coruscative disc 22 acting against the force of the explosion when the explosive 20 is detonated, was sufficient to cause shearing of the coruscative disc 22 and initiation yof reaction of the coruscative material. Once the coruscative material is reacting, it generates tremendous heat which is actually partially converted and added to some extent in the form of kinetic energy to the force of the explosion due to the explosive 20. Thus, the reacting and reacted particles can achieve velocities much 26 is shown in FIGURE 2. A coruscative disc 28 is restrained by the bent-over top edges of `a` cylindrical tube 30 which is generally similar to the tube 12 of FIGURE 1. Instead of using a tetryl booster, prima cord 32 Wrapped helically about ring cap 34 can be employed. The action of detonating explosive 36 is, of course, similar to before, but it was found on test that this version of coruscative device was more effective in initiating reaction of the coruscative material because the coruscative disc 28 is sheared more efciently by the restraining upper edges of the tube 30. The version of coruscative device 38 shown in FIGURE 3 having a tube 40 which has a closed but perforated upper end 42 was found even more effective in initiating reaction, and additionally, produced a scattering or spraying of reacting particles of the coruscative disc 44. The holes 46 can be circular and of uniform size positioned equally spaced in concentric rings about the center of the upper end 42.

A coruscative ballistic device 48 having a generally unrestrained coruscative hemispherical shell 50 of potentially self reactive material in contact with a body of explosive 52 is shown in FIGURE 4. The shell 50, as illustrated in the cross sectional view, can be molded under pressure to form a structure which has an outer surface that is uniformly covered with hemispherical depressions as indicated in FIGURE 4. This dome structure fosters multiple shearing of the coruscative shell 50 yand formation of jets of self reacting particles on detonation of the explosive 52, so that reaction is initiated uniformly throughout the coruscative shell 50. The lmrestrained shell 50 is thus rendered substantially completely reacting, and a fuller and greater amount of energy is instantaneously generated and available. All of the ejected particles are reacting and the higher velocities derived from such reaction (coupled with force of the explosive) are achieved for all of the scattered particles.

The formation of liners for shaped charges is illustrated in FIGURE 5. A thin, 60 degree apex, coruscative cone 54, for example, can comprise a thin, spun aluminum cone 56 which is coated with potassium chlorate (KClO4) as an upper cone layer 58. Detonation of the explosive charge 60 causes the insert cone 54 to collapse which produces a shearing action throughout the length of the inclined walls, igniting the coruscative materials. The casing containing the explosive 60 and insert cone 54 can be of thin aluminum, for example, and has a hemispherical upper end which is integral with the casing or which can be suitably attached to the lower cylindrical portion of the casing. An attachable upper end can be fabricated from various materials, as desired according to the intended use of the device. By having the aluminum arid potassium chlorate in two adjacent layers, as shown, co1- lapse of the liner by the explosive force and heat impels one layer against the other such that one material is assured direct supply and contact with the other. Reaction of any section is not precluded because of the lack of coreacting materials. The reacting liner generates large quantities of heat, temperatures up to 6000 degrees centigrade being commonly obtained with coruscatives. The detonation of the explosive 60 causes particles to be ejected in the form of a jet of molten material. f If the reactant product has a high boiling point, such as titanium carbide (TiC), the jet is cohesive and there is no spraying of particles. Where aluminum is combined with manganese dioxide (MnO2) to produce aluminum trioxide (A1203) and manganese, the manganese easily evaporates, and spraying of the jet particles results. A medium high boiling point reactant product is, for example, calcium oxide (CaO).

Conventional shaped charge liners are usually of inert metals such as iron or copper. Detonation of the explosive charge causes the metal particles to be ejected in the form of a jet of molten material which travels at very high velocity and has good penetrating power, ordinary maximum velocities being 33,000 ft./sec. Whena coruscative liner ignites, however, a jet of self-reacting fa'ssociation are essentially lost.

molten material is ejected, and the coruscative combinaexplosive in a coruscative shaped charge'has ejected par- Y ticles of the coruscative liner measured at velocities of 49,000 ft./sec. Such velocities. are greater than the surface escape velocity from the earth, and self reacting 'particles have been projected into interplanetary space by means of a coruscative ballistic4 device suitably installed in a rocket. Y l

Insert liners of the types of compositions previously discuss-ed can be .used with ordinaryexplosives to `form 'shaped charges, .and -when the explosive in contact with 'the lineris detonated, the reaction between Vthe components in the material will take place; this reaction being preferably ofthe solid-solid type. The use of-such an insert liner in -a shaped charge has the following advantages:

(l) Ajet formed by ejecting the particlesv ofra po-V To achieveV gaseous compo-V Vv.tedious and lengthy Yto accomplish, the elect is thatmol- Further, 'gases'such as H2O,CO andV CO2 disassoy tentially self reactive insertcanhe controlled as to the Vproportion of solid particles or liquid droplets it will "contain ,Y 1

(2) The penetration and cutting properties of such jets can be widely varied.

`(3) The detonation wave will cause the composition Vofthe liner to react, generating large quantities of heat. The ejection of Vthe, particles Vfrom the liner will take place at higher temperature and higher velocity than lthose lof an inert liner, correspondingly increasing the penetratingand chemical reaction power of the jet.

Since the i inserts are Yself reactive, when Vthese are ejected they can continue to react regardless of the Vmedium through which they travel.

useful in the creation ofarticial meteors which can be employed in various fields of experimentation and may housed in regions where littlev or no atmospherer is present.

Because of the higher energy densityV of the combina tion of an explosive with the solid and/or liquid potentially self reactive materials described, the fragmenta- This is particularly tion of inert solid shells Yor covers, surrounding suchf combinations, proceeds more violently and more uni-A formly than it would if the solid shell, etc. were acted `and carbon. K Yincreases in discrete incremental steps-untiljthe last `u`p -ecules of one reactant materialare positioned directly before the other co-reactant material, and when .the ,ex-V plosive 66 is detonated, the coruscative disc zjappears to react instantaneously: and in entirety.V Where the coruscative disc is pressed from a mixture, as was done in the embodiments of FIGURES'lgthrough 4, an` essen-v Y tially solid wall of titanium,.for'example, is not presented to the carbon atoms which must eachcombine'with a titanium atom., Immediate interaction atthe` start may Vnot occur with a coru'scative mixture but does take placewhere'laminations ofrpotentially self reacting'materials 'are utilized in .planes generally parallel with the detonation wave front of the explosion. Ideally a-'l'ayer or two of atoms or molecules of one coruscative material is v'placed adjacentanother layeriortwo. of atomsor mole-- cules of the other coruscative material. v f

Alaminated kshaped charge insert 68 of a conical conguration in acoruscative ballisticY device70`is illus-Vr trated in FIGURE 7. .Thellaminations' are exaggerated in thickness, and only afew layers areshownkfor clarity.V Y The conical insert 68 is `only about 3..,millim'eters thick, y

for example. A conventional explosiveV charge v72 is contained in a casingv similar to that ofV FIGURES, .and

the explosive' 72 is indirect contact'with the lower surv face of the conical insert 68, and Yfuze 74 can be a conadvancing detonation wave front toproduce a'well de- Yfined Vand directed mol'tenjet inthe direction ofthe Y- longitudinal axis. Itis apparent thatV the inserts can be .variously shaped to Yline cavities which are, for example, spherical, cylindrical, parabolic, or hyperbolic. Such al- 35 tornate shapes can be used where appropriate, but the directiveproperties fofl the inverted right circular :cone and effectiveness of "reaction was found .especiallygood in tests. Y Y

A rgradient of .concentration rof .coruscative 'materials can beprovided in an insertl for a coruscativeballistic de- Y vice; The device '76 shown inl FIGURE k8`has an insert 78 `positioned againstv an explosive charge l80, similar to the embodiment' of FIGURE 7. The lowermost layer Y 'of the'conical Ylaminated insert`78 is, however,-.a mixture 5 l of coruscative material in stoichiometric proportions. This is indicated in FIGURE A8 as a mixtl'Jre'oftitanium The concentration Vof carbonV gradually `permost layer consists entirely of carbon, vas indicated bythe small arrow. This incremental.step-'gradientican .have extremely. small (infinitesimal) steps. 'The overall. v

' Yinsert'proportions can be represented a's'hav'ingan'excess explosives are used. Because of the possibility of staggered explosions, the time sequence of the vpressures generated can be adjusted to impart improved muzzlei t 'velocities to the'projectiles. l

A laminar form of corusc'ative disc 62 is employed in a coruscative ballistic device 64 as shownin FIGURE 6. f

:of carbon, Ti-l-C-,i-XC, where X can have any value,

for example, from at least approximately 0.25 to l. ,'IheffY value of X 'is selected, for thek intended application ofY Vthe device,'ofcours`e.

.An Yexcess of aluminum is indicated in the following If the excess aluminum is'intended to provide additional reaction'with water, for example, the value of'Yc/an be neededfor hydrolysis, of water lby. hot aluminumg'f'lhe heat change produced'rin' theabove reactionl is suicient .K to sustain very roughly 24` excess atoms of aluminum at Y a high enough temperature for hydrolysis of water.,`

The well Vknown coruscative combination in the Theri vmit reaction canbe used to summarize three usefulk re- Y sults 'of corusc'atives.

Y This reaction yields .molten iron which .can bel'used i for penetration of armor, particularly when obtained from an insert or liner for a shaped charge. The hot molten iron can also be used for incendiary purposes.

(2) Excess reducing reactant example.

Where X is greater than 2. y

The thermally excited excess aluminum is capable of additional reaction with a suitable target material. The hot excess aluminum would react with sea water, for example, forming aluminum oxide and liberating free hydrogen under very high pressure, which in turn is capable of combining with oxygen in Vair to give even' further destructive power.

(3) Excess oxidizing reactant example.

Yrelo; 2..1 Ano, 2Yre got-nor heat Where Y is greater than 1.

This reaction yields an excess of thermally excited free oxygen which is capable of additional reaction with target material such as aluminum skin on aircraft or missiles.

Excess reactant material is usually provided by supplying a surplus of one of the coruscative materials directly in the coruscative mixture or laminations. However, it is readily possible to provide the excess in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 9. Here, a closed dome 82 which can be aluminum, magnesium, etc. according to the coruscative combination 84 used to ll the dome 82, is actually the excess reactant material. When the explosive 86 is detonated, the dome 82 is propelled upwards in FIGURE 9 and the detonation shock initiates reaction of the coruscative 84 in the dome 82. The

`dome 82 is restrained initially at its lower edges but is easily sheared loose by force of the explosion. The heat of reaction quickly reduces the dome and its contents into a molten mass which includes the excess dome material. It was found, however, in test that ignition or initiation of reaction was more difficult here than with the highly eilicient conical insert version described above where good shear action results.

A coruscative ballistic device having a cylindrical insert liner 88 is shown in FIGURE 10. The cylindrical insert liner 88 is positioned centrally in casing 90 which has a central cutout in its generally closed upper end. The insert liner 88 extends inwards and terminates at the normally upper surface of block 92 which can be a block or disc of wood or plastic, for example. Ordinary explosive 94 such as a type called let-X can be used to llthe casing 90 generally surrounding the insert liner 88 and block 92. The explosive can be ignited by igniter means 96 which is generally held in an upright position as shown by the normally lower cover 98. The insert liner 88 can be fabricated from a coruscative mixture similar to that used for forming the coruscative inserts of FIGURES l through 4, but the insert liner 88 is preferably constructed in thin layers or laminations similar to the conical insert liner shown in FIGURE 7. The block 92 can be omitted if desired but is preferably included in a coruscative ballistic device. The function of the block 92 is to cause the force of the explosion, when the explosive 94 is detonated, to be directed generally laterally against the wall surface of the insert liner 88. The explosive force exerted against the cylindrical wall of the insert liner 88 toward its central longitudinal axis causes the insert liner 88 to collapse together to form an integral self reacting mass.

The action of a coruscative ballistic device can be explained rather simply by analogy where a relatively thin disc is dropped flatly into a body of water, both being at normal temperatures, and then dropping the disc when it is extremely hot. When the disc is at a normal temperaturer, the disc will sink immediately into the water. However, when the disc is extremely hot, the water will vaporize where the hot disc strikes the surface of the water and the vaporization exerts a force up against the disc. In a coruscative ballistic device, when the Vconventional explosive is detonated, the explosive shock is directed against the coruscative insert causing it to ignite or initiate reaction. As soon as this occurs, tremendous heat is generated which interacts in part with the explosive (gas molecules) force causing a superimposed or added force action. Since force and reaction must be equal, the reacting coruscative particles are accordingly given added kinetic energy and extremely high velocities are obtained. The coruscative ballistic device can be compared with a two stage rocket.

It is to be understood that the particular embodiments of my invention described above and shown in the drawings are merely illustrative of and not restrictive of the broad invention, and that various changes in design, structure and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the broader of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A coruscative ballistic device adapted to impact against a target object which is substantially composed of material adapted to become part of the coruscative reaction, said device comprising: a body of explosive; means for detonating said body of explosive; a multiple layered body of potentially chemically reactive ingredients having at least two alternate layers of each of said reactive ingredients in a self-reactive composition responsive to the detonation of said body of explosive to react and to yield predominantly solid and liquid reaction products, the ingredients in one layer of said multiple body reacting with the ingredients in the immediately adjacent layer, wherein a substantial excess of amount of an ingredient is provided in a layer, over stoichiometric proportion, for reaction of the ingredients to provide excess thermally excited reactant on reaction, said excess reactant adapted to combine coruscatively with the material composing said target object.

2. The invention according to claim l wherein said multiple layered body of potentially chemically reactive ingredients includes `lthe ingredients T and C being individually present in separate layers proportions of one mole of Ti to one mole of C.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said multiple layered body 'of potentially chemically reactive ingredients includes the ingredients Ca and Si, the Ca and Si being individually present in separate layers in layered proportions of one mole of Ca and two moles of Si.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said multiple layered body of potentially chemically reactive ingredients includes the ingredients Fe203 and Al, the FeZOS and Al being individually present in separate layers in layered proportions of one mole of Fe203 to two moles of Al.

5. The invention according to claim l wherein said multiple layered body of potentially chemically reactive ingredients includes the ingredients Al and Na202, the A1 and Na202 being present in proportions of two moles of Alto three moles of Na202.

6. `The invention according to claim l wherein said multiple layered body of potentially chemically reactive ingredients includes the ingredients B and KClO2, the B and the KClO4 being present in proportions of eight moles of B to three moles of KClO4.

7. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said multiple layered body of potentially chemically reactive ingredients includes the ingredients Al and KClO4, the Al and the KClO4 being present in proportions of eight moles of Alto three moles of KClO4.

8. The invention according to claim l wherein said multiple layered body of potentially chemically reactive ingredients includes the ingredients PbO2 and Al, the PbOZ and Al being present in proportions of three moles of PbO2 to four moles of Al.

9. The invention according to claim l wherein said body of explosive is provided with a cavity at one side .thereof and in vwhich said multiple'layered body of po-Y tentially chemically reactive ingredients forms a liner for said cavity. A Y

10. Theinvention according to claim 9 whereinl the cavity is a right circular cone.

11. The invention according to claim 1n wherein said multiple layered body of potentiallyv chemically reactive ingredients has its layers arranged in a gradient of concentration from stoichiometric proportions of ingredients progressively increasing in concentration of at ,least one 10 ingredient to exclusion of the other ingredients.

References yCited in the le of this p atent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lubelsky Oct. 1'1, 1932 15v 2,628,559 2,667,836 2,717,204 y 2,789,004v V2,805,145 2,972,948.:

FOREIGN PATENTS Belgium sept. 29, 195561 

1. A CORUSCATIVE BALLISTIC DEVICE ADAPTED TO IMPACT AGAINST A TARGET OBJECT WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPOSED OF MATERIAL ADAPTED TO BECOME PART OF THE CORUSCATIVE REACTION, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING: A BODY OF EXPLOSIVE; MEANS FOR DETONATING SAID BODY OF EXPLOSIVE; MULTIPLE LAYERED BODY OF POTENTIALLY CHEMICALLY REACTIVE INGREDIENTS HAVING AT LEAST TWO ALTERNATE LAYERS OF EACH OF SAID REACTIVE INGREDIENTS IN A SELF-REACTIVE COMPOSITION RESPONSIVE TO THE DETONATION OF SAID BODY OF EXPLOSIVE TO REACT AND TO YIELD PREDOMINANTLY SOLID AND LIQUID REACTION PRODUCTS, THE INGREDIENTS IN ONE LAYER OF SAID MULTIPLE BODY REACTING WITH THE INGREDIENTS IN THE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT LAYER, WHEREIN A SUBSTANTIAL EXCESS OF AMOUNT OF AN INGREDIENT IS PROVIDED IN A LAYER, OVER STOICHIOMETRIC PROPORTION, FOR REACTION OF THE INGREDIENTS TO PROVIDE EXCESS THERMALLY EXCITED REACTANT ON REACTION, SAID EXCESS REACTANT ADAPTED TO COMBINE CORUSCATIVELY WITH THE MATERIAL COMPOSING SAID TARGET OBJECT. 